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Nitrogen Loss in Gaseous Form from Soils as Influenced by Fertilizers and Management¹

ABSTRACT

The experiments reported here were aimed to ascertain the magnitude of gaseous loss of nitrogen in Spencer silt loam under greenhouse conditions, as affected by pH, form of nitrogenous fertilizer, energy material, and cropping. Four additions of 150 ppm. nitrogen each were made to both cropped and uncropped soils; four successive oat crops were grown on the former.

At field moisture levels large volatile losses of nitrogen occurred from the uncropped soil regardless of treatment. Over an 11-month period these losses ranged from 35% in the soil at pH 5.5 amended with straw and nitrogen as (NH₄)₂SO₄ to 72% in the soil at pH 6.5 with (NH₄)₂SO₄ but no straw. In soils similarly treated and subsequently cropped with oats, the losses were between 7 to 8%.

In other experiments the levels of NO₃, NH₄, and total N in the uncropped Spencer silt loam at pH 6.5 were measured 8 times during a 1-year period. Irrespective of the form of nitrogen added, presence or absence of straw, and whether liming occurred at the time of fertilization or 12 weeks earlier, the greatest decrease in total nitrogen occurred during the first 6 weeks after fertilization and thereafter remained more or less constant over the year. Approximately one-half of the 300 ppm. nitrogen added was volatilized from the soil under each treatment. Concurrent increases in nitrate nitrogen levels occurred without exception.

Contribution from the Departments of Soils and Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison. This paper represents portions of a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree. Published with the approval of the director, Wisconsin Agr. Exp. Sta. This work was supported in part by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. Presented before Div. IV, Soil Science Society of America, Cincinnati, Ohio, Nov. 14, 1956.

² Research assistant, Associate Professor and Professor of Soils, and Professor of Bacteriology, respectively.

Received for publication November 23, 1956. Accepted for publication March 19, 1957.